Today, after rollerset airdrying my hair overnight, I had to leave in a hurry. I was about to put my hair up in a French Twist when I thought about spiral curling my hair with my Caruso steam rollers. I’ve done this before with a tendril or two while wearing a bun but not all over my head. I did this very quickly, spiraling locks of hair along the length of my small sized rollers (not overlapping) and in 10 minutes, my hair was full of beautiful spiral waves with lots of body!! I ran out the door with no time to “primp” and got compliments all day! This was so unexpected – why I haven’t done this before, I don’t know. I have flexi-rods but I haven't mastered them yet. I just had to share this with you ladies.

(If this method has been posted before, please forgive me - I must have missed it!)

You're welcome Hairlove! Just now I dug out my little Caruso instruction booklet and on page 10 are step by step instructions on how to make spiral curls and on page 17 is a picture of a woman wearing long spiral curls, with diagrams on how to do this. I guess I never read my instruction book all the way through because I sure missed this one!

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When I use mine, I shake the curler in a downward motion to remove excess moisture from the curler, I then curl my hair and sit under my hooded dryer for 10 to 15 minutes to lock my curls in.

Perhaps the product on your hair before putting in your rollers could be interfering with the curl pattern.

In the Black Hair section of my instruction booklet, it says "Important: Do not set hair that contains curl activator...gummy moisturizer...heavy oil...or any product that leaves hair feeling damp". Although I never use a setting lotion, it says "a light setting lotion may be used before setting for extra body only if the hair is thoroughly dry."

There are separate instructions for relaxed and for natural black hair.

Also, steaming the roller for about 8 seconds and the roller shield for 2 seconds (not longer) is supposed to double the curling power and give you the strongest curl possible. I haven't steamed the shields yet, I may try it.

Remember that every second counts. "Do not remove the roller from the steamer until you are ready to wrap your hair. Then, be sure to wrap your hair as quickly as possible." If you wait a few seconds after removing the roller from the steamer, it's too late and you'll have to start over, preferably with another roller (you can come back to that roller later).

And remember not to oversteam the rollers. Over 15 seconds is way too long. I leave it on for 8 seconds at the most. 5 seconds will work well for my hair also.

Make sure you have good stream pressure coming out also. That means make sure there is enough salt and water in the container.

I hope this helps. Maybe someone else has some tips to avoid flat curls also.

Isis, you mentioned salt and water. The older models used a pinch of salt in the water do you still have one of those? I have both. The one you use salt and one without. Queen, your hair should be relatively clean and dry. No oily products or anything like that or else you will end up with limp curls. I’ve never used setting lotion. The steam is what sets/locks in your curls. Remember if you oversteam the rollers, just give it a couple of shakes.

If you want the curls to be more defined try using a LITTLE bit of Motions Foam Wrap Lotion on the ends before you roll your hair. Some have suggested mixing setting lotion with water and placing it in the unit. Tried it once and it worked nice.

But remember to only let the roller stay on the steamer no more then 3-5 seconds for very short hair, 6-8 for hair at chin to sholder length, and 8-10 for pass the sholder.